The 38th Cannes Film Festival took place from 8 to 20 May 1985. Czechoslovak filmmaker Miloš Forman served as jury president for the main competition. Yugoslavian filmmaker Emir Kusturica won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film When Father Was Away on Business.
The festival paid a tribute to American actor James Stewart and screened a restored version of his 1954 film The Glenn Miller Story, directed by Anthony Mann.
The festival opened with Witness by Peter Weir, and closed with The Emerald Forest by John Boorman.
Juries Main competition Miloš Forman, Czechoslovak filmmaker – Jury President Néstor Almendros, Spanish cinematographer Jorge Amado, Brazilian author Mauro Bolognini, Italian director Claude Imbert, French journalist Sarah Miles, British actress Michel Perez, French Mo Rothman, American producer Francis Veber, French filmmaker and producer Edwin Zbonek, Austrian filmmaker
Camera d'Or Bernard Jubard - Jury President Lorenzo Codelli, journalist Peter Cowie, British film historian and author Joël Magny, film critic Bertrand Van Effenterre, French filmmaker Jose Vieira Marques, cinephile
Official selection In Competition The following feature films competed for the Palme d'Or: English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countryAdieu Bonaparteوداعا بونابرت Youssef Chahine Egypt, FranceBirdy Alan Parker United StatesBliss Ray Lawrence AustraliaThe Coca-Cola Kid Dušan MakavejevCop au VinPoulet au vinaigre Claude ChabrolFranceColonel RedlOberst Redl István Szabó Hungary, West Germany, AustriaDerborence Francis Reusser Switzerland, FranceDétective Jean-Luc Godard FranceFarewell to the Arkさらば箱舟 Shūji Terayama JapanInsignificance Nicolas Roeg United KingdomJoshua Then and Now Ted Kotcheff CanadaKiss of the Spider WomanO Beijo da Mulher Aranha Héctor Babenco Brazil, United StatesThe Official StoryLa historia oficial Luis Puenzo ArgentinaMadman at WarScemo di guerra Dino Risi Italy, FranceMask Peter Bogdanovich United StatesMishima: A Life in Four Chapters Paul Schrader United States, JapanPale Rider Clint Eastwood United StatesRendez-vous André Téchiné FranceThe Two Lives of Mattia PascalLe due vite di Mattia Pascal Mario Monicelli ItalyWhen Father Was Away on Business Отац на службеном путу Emir Kusturica Yugoslavia
Un Certain Regard The following films were selected for the Un Certain Regard section: English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countryA.K. Chris Marker FranceDear, Dearest, Beloved, Unique...Милый, дорогой, любимый, единственныйDinara AsanovaSoviet UnionIl diavolo sulle collineVittorio CottafaviItalyEmpty Quarter: A Woman in AfricaUne femme en AfriqueRaymond DepardonFranceFire Festival火まつりMitsuo YanagimachiJapanHeritage DediščinaMatjaž KlopčičYugoslaviaLatino Haskell WexlerUnited StatesThe Malady of DeathDas Mal des TodesPeter HandkeAustriaMonsieur de Pourceaugnac Michel MitraniFranceThe Mystery of AlexinaLe Mystère AlexinaRené FéretOriana Fina TorresVenezuelaPadre nuestroFrancisco RegueiroSpainA Private FunctionMalcolm MowbrayUnited KingdomTea in the HaremLe Thé au harem d'ArchimèdeMehdi CharefFranceTokyo-GaWim WendersUnited States, West GermanyWhen Night Fallsעד סוף הלילה Eitan Green Israel
Out of Competition The following films were selected to be screened out of competition: English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countryThe Emerald Forest (closing film) John Boorman United KingdomThe Glenn Miller Story (1954) Anthony Mann United StatesJumping SpringenJean-Pierre De DeckerBelgiumDie NachtHans-Jürgen SyberbergWest GermanyNight MagicLewis FureyCanada, FranceThe Purple Rose of CairoWoody AllenUnited StatesThe Satin SlipperLe soulier de SatinManoel de OliveiraPortugalSteamingJoseph LoseyUnited KingdomWitness (opening film)Peter WeirUnited States
Short Films Competition The following short films competed for the Short Film Palme d'Or: L'anniversaire de Georges by Patrick Traon Mariage (Jenitba) by Slav Bakalov and Rumen Petkov Stop by Krzysztof Kiwerski Tusagi by Bondo Shoshitaishvili
Parallel sections International Critics' Week The following feature films were screened for the 24th International Critics' Week (24e Semaine de la Critique):
Le Temps détruit by Pierre Beuchot (France) Faces of Women (Visages de femmes) by Desiré Ecaré (Ivory Coast) Kolp by Roland Suso Richter (West Germany) Vertiges by Christine Laurent (France) The Color of Blood by Bill Duke (United States) Fucha by Michał Dudziewicz (Poland) A Canary Cage by Pavel Chukhray (Soviet Union) A Marvada Carne by André Klotzel (Brazil)
Directors' Fortnight The following films were screened for the 1985 Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalizateurs):
A Flash of Green by Victor Nuñez Crossover Dreams by Leon Ichaso Da Capo by Pekka Lehto, Pirjo Honkasalo Dance with a Stranger by Mike Newell Desperately Seeking Susan by Susan Seidelman Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart by Wayne Wang Love on the Pyramids Plateau (Al Hob Fawk Habadet al Haram) by Atef El Tayeb A Suspended Life (Ghazal el-Banat) by Jocelyne Saab Blue Mountains by Eldar Shengelaia Impiegati by Pupi Avati The City and the Dogs (La ciudad y los perros) by Francisco J. Lombardi La noche más hermosa by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón Les anges by Ridha Behi Lieber Karl by Maria Knilli Megfelelo Ember Kenyes Feladatra by János Kovácsi O Erotas tou Odyssea by Vassilis Vafeas The Funeral (Osōshiki) by Juzo Itami The Innocent by John Mackenzie
Official Awards
In Competition Palme d'Or: When Father Was Away on Business by Emir Kusturica Grand Prix: Birdy by Alan Parker Best Director: André Téchiné for Rendez-vous Best Actress: Norma Aleandro for The Official Story Cher for Mask Best Actor: William Hurt for Kiss of the Spider Woman Best Artistic Contribution: Paul Schrader for Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters Jury Prize: Colonel Redl by István Szabó
Caméra d'Or Oriana by Fina Torres
Short Film Palme d'Or Mariage by Slav Bakalov and Rumen Petkov
Independent Awards
FIPRESCI Prizes When Father Was Away on Business by Emir Kusturica (In competition) The Purple Rose of Cairo by Woody Allen (Out of competition) Faces of Women by Desiré Ecaré (International Critics' Week)
Commission Supérieure Technique Technical Grand Prize: Insignificance by Nicolas Roeg
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury The Official Story by Norma Aleandro
Award of the Youth Foreign Film: Dance with a Stranger by Mike Newell French Film: Tea in the Harem by Mehdi Charef
References
Media INA: Opening of the 1985 Festival (commentary in French) INA: List of winners of the 1985 festival (commentary in French)
External links 1985 Cannes Film Festival (web.archive) Official website Retrospective 1985 Cannes Film Festival Awards for 1985 at Internet Movie Database